tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39088842342489154342017-10-09T14:21:10.737-07:00 Tiny Apple Bytes Keep Up With Apple Inc. (AAPL) Stock Movement &amp; Product Releases Here!
www.TinyAppleBytes.comJoshua Rarricknoreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-5959102863557890352016-02-13T03:11:00.002-08:002016-02-13T03:11:48.359-08:00NEW WEBSITE COMING SOONTiny Apple Bytes now under new management! Our site will soon be going through a major makeover! Watch for improvements and new information!Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-38985364599236650522013-12-07T14:37:00.000-08:002013-12-07T14:37:13.492-08:00Apple - Meet The Real "EyePhone"Google's Android OS may have a leg up on Apple with a new app that has been developed. In this video from Reuters, Jim Drury explains how a group of eye-care professionals designed an application that allows Android devices to be used as mobile eye exam units. This will make the diagnosis of eye problems for hundreds of thousands of people who cannot travel to the city much easier. Third world countries will definitely benefit from this amazing new app!<br /><br /><object data="http://www.reuters.com/resources_v2/flash/video_embed.swf?videoId=274500013&amp;edition=UK" height="259" id="rcomVideo_274500013" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="460"> <param name='movie' value='http://www.reuters.com/resources_v2/flash/video_embed.swf?videoId=274500013&edition=UK'></param><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true'></param><param name='allowScriptAccess' value='always'></param><param name='wmode' value='transparent'></param><embed src='http://www.reuters.com/resources_v2/flash/video_embed.swf?videoId=274500013&edition=UK' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowfullscreen='true' allowScriptAccess='always' width='460' height='259' wmode='transparent'></embed> </object>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-24195964635592221552013-12-07T12:25:00.000-08:002013-12-07T12:27:08.983-08:00Siri VS Google Now: Which Is Better?If you have can't decide whether Google's Google Now voice recognition software is better than Apple's Siri, then this video could help. Watch 50 voice commands put to action by the two programs, and see which one you would prefer to have. This video from Phone Buff demonstrates the ability of these two programs to translate voice commands into action.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MtwVQhEXCcc?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe><iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2vT0AWDq3DE?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-66172207404005756142013-12-07T11:49:00.001-08:002013-12-07T11:49:35.282-08:00Original iPad: Retro VideoHere is a look into the past. This 8 minute video introduces Apple's original iPad in 2010. Viewed alongside today's <a href="http://tinyapplebytes.com/bytes_4u.html" target="_blank">tablets</a>, the original iPad still holds its intrinsic value.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/y2Hz8dhQw8Q?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-73230588174718970162013-12-06T19:35:00.000-08:002013-12-06T19:35:38.516-08:00Apple iPhone 5s Video ReviewStill undecided about purchasing an iPhone 5s? Check out this video review of the new model and see if the new features are what you're looking for. Remember to check out our selection of iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c models in our<a href="http://tinyapplebytes.com/bytes_4u.html" target="_blank"> Bytes 4U</a> section.<br />&nbsp; <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="263" scrolling="no" src="http://widgets.ign.com/video/embed/content.html?url=http://www.ign.com/videos/2013/10/03/apple-iphone-5s-video-review" width="468"></iframe>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-48025873647245012062013-12-06T17:23:00.000-08:002013-12-06T17:28:37.894-08:00iPad Mini With Retina Display Still Not Available In Carrier Stores<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6xL-pYBRLMg/UoZWaBtmrcI/AAAAAAAAAbw/ib7G2OIjdeM/s1600/iPad+Mini+Retina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6xL-pYBRLMg/UoZWaBtmrcI/AAAAAAAAAbw/ib7G2OIjdeM/s1600/iPad+Mini+Retina.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Apple is still maintaining a tight grip on its supply of iPad Minis with Retina Display. The much coveted device is still not available in carrier stores, and this could be because the Cupertino company does not feel its supply chain is strong enough to maintain the demand in carrier stores, as well as in Apple’s own direct customer base.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As of this morning (Friday, December 6), Verizon still has the iPad Mini with Retina Display backordered all the way out till December 16<sup>th</sup>. AT&amp;T is not looking any better with its 21-28 day waiting period when the tablet is ordered online. Neither of the carriers has offered any information as to when the iPad Mini with Retina Display would actually be in their brick and mortar stores, according to <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57614734-37/apples-tight-grip-ipad-mini-retina-still-not-in-carrier-stores/" target="_blank">CNET</a>. T-Mobile has not yet given a date as to when the iPad Mini with Retina Display would be available. The company’s website simply says that it will be “available for shipment soon.” Apple’s direct availability of the tablet has seemed to improve in recent days, as the waiting period is now listed as <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/buy-ipad/ipad-mini-retina" target="_blank">5-7</a> days, rather than the 5-10 days that had been listed last week.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The cellular models of the iPad Mini with Retina Display are now available for walk in purchases in some Apple retail stores in the U.S., although Verizon and AT&amp;T still do not have the tablet. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Apple’s launch of the iPad Mini with Retina Display was uncharacteristically quiet, with the tablet being launched on the company’s website at midnight, and with no public announcement. This is probably due to supply constraints, which do indeed seem to be plaguing the carriers. The new iPad Mini with Retina Display is one of the most sought after holiday gift items this year.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">While Verizon and AT&amp;T may not have any of the devices for sale, Tiny Apple Bytes does have available devices. To get your iPad Mini with Retina Display from Tiny Apple Bytes, simply visit our <a href="http://tinyapplebytes.com/bytes_4u.html" target="_blank">Bytes 4U </a>page and select the model you want!<o:p></o:p></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-12774679760752290682013-12-06T13:05:00.000-08:002013-12-06T13:05:21.831-08:0025 iOS Features That Apple Never Told You Existed<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/O7Ea-72I8QY?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe> <br />Here are 25 features of iOS 7 that Apple has not told you about.Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-88096493095705437962013-12-06T11:49:00.002-08:002013-12-06T11:49:52.309-08:00Apple E-Book Price Fixing: Judge Ripped In Scathing Editorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YoB73QZ9CxA/UqIqEtbVeDI/AAAAAAAAAlY/RGgXjZ2TI8Q/s1600/ebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YoB73QZ9CxA/UqIqEtbVeDI/AAAAAAAAAlY/RGgXjZ2TI8Q/s1600/ebook.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">In July Judge Denise Cote of the New York federal district court passed a conviction down on the iPad, claiming that it was a part of a conspiracy to increase e-book prices. This doesn’t really seem to make sense on the surface, as the tablet actually caused e-book prices to drop when it entered the market in 2010. Consumers were able to choose more freely where they would purchase their e-books, and the competition subsequently caused a price reduction.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The judge appointed a personal friend, Michael Bromwich, as a monitor of the situation. However, Bromwich used his position to rip into the Cupertino based tech giant. His role in the mess following the lawsuit is rather scandalous, as he is billing Apple $1,100 per hour to investigate the company. Oh, and as if that’s not enough, he has also called in a second law firm to help ensure he gets the job done right because he has no experience in this area. The first two weeks of his investigation landed Apple a bill for $138,432.40.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Bromwich has asked for meetings with all of Apple’s upper echelon, including Tim Cook and Jony Ive, presumably to pump them for information. Judge Cote also wants Bromwich to meet with her every month and hand over detailed reports of what he has found without having an Apple attorney present at the meeting. The WSJ says this is completely unconstitutional.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The<a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304355104579236261045331876" target="_blank"> editorial</a> column in the Journal says, "Special masters are typically imposed on a company to remedy a pattern of especially egregious conduct using a settlement consent decree in which litigants agree to the terms of the appointment. Judge Cote foisted Mr. Bromwich on Apple over its objections, to punish the company for what she ruled was price-fixing when the late Jobs tried to alter the payment structure of e-books in December 2009 and January 2010."<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Judge Cote has withdrawn her request for private meetings with Bromwich after Apple loudly voiced its objections. However, the Journal says that withdrawing the request is not enough.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">"The Second Circuit where her ruling is on appeal should remove her from the case. Her condominium with Mr. Bromwich is offensive to the rule of law and a disgrace to the judiciary.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What do you think? Is this a gross abuse of power for a judge to place a personal friend in charge of a massive investigation, then try to gain information without both parties present? Tell us what you think in the comments below.<o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-4434413537253503312013-12-05T20:41:00.000-08:002013-12-05T20:41:26.260-08:00Make The Apple Logo On Your iPhone Light Up<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kaH10Scme_Q?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe> <br />Check out this awesome little trick to make the Apple logo on the back of your iPhone light up!Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-46145925711779942672013-12-05T15:42:00.001-08:002013-12-05T15:42:55.171-08:00Apple News: China Mobile Deal Is A Go!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cDhBB_mwRGM/UqEPQBukoKI/AAAAAAAAAk4/vJ3sbrPGlOU/s1600/Apple+China+Mobile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cDhBB_mwRGM/UqEPQBukoKI/AAAAAAAAAk4/vJ3sbrPGlOU/s1600/Apple+China+Mobile.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">The rumors have come to pass, and Apple and China Mobile have signed a deal to launch the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in China. According to the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304096104579238832743924434" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>, China Mobile and Apple have signed the contract and the 700 million subscribers the Chinese carrier has in its customer base will soon be able to purchase their new iPhones.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">China Mobile is the largest carrier in the world by subscriber count, and a 700 million head market is a big stroke for Apple. That means that China Mobile’s customer base is around two times the entire population of the U.S. This deal has been in the making for several years, with Apple executives trying to get a contract inked with the giant wireless provider. No doubt the carrier will see great success with the iPhone launch to its customer base, which is largely made up of China’s middle class.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Apple has been marketing the iPhone in China, and the country is the second largest market for the Cupertino company, coming in behind the United States. However, Apple has been losing ground to other smartphone manufacturers, including Xiaomi. The reason for this is that competitors often offer cheaper options than the iPhone, which attracts more users.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In September, Apple was able to gain clearance from the Chinese government to allow China Mobile to operate the iPhone on its wireless network. This was a big victory for Apple, and quite possibly what has fueled the rumors surrounding the deal for the last few months. Earlier this week, China Mobile also made progress with the government, securing permission to operate a fourth generation network. This new type of network uses TD-LTE technology, which is extremely fast, and will replace the 3G network currently in place.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">This deal could mean a huge boost for Apple in the coming weeks. The launch is rumored to be happening on December 18<sup>th</sup>, so we don’t have long to wait until we find out just how big this deal is for both companies.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-35609470709764386062013-12-05T12:00:00.000-08:002013-12-05T12:00:30.429-08:00Score One For Blackberry: No iPhone For Obama<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jaLSeYECUg0/UqDafuK0JXI/AAAAAAAAAko/j76Ielhn2jk/s1600/Obama+Blackberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="341" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jaLSeYECUg0/UqDafuK0JXI/AAAAAAAAAko/j76Ielhn2jk/s400/Obama+Blackberry.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit: Charles Dapharak/ AP</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Blackberry has managed to keep one loyal customer while enduring the loss of millions of others to companies like Apple and Samsung. President Obama has said that he is not allowed to use an iPhone because it is a security risk. He told a group that because of “security reasons” an iPhone is off limits, and instead he uses a Blackberry device.<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Blackberry Turning Sour<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Blackberry was once the device of choice, but in recent years the company has slipped from the forefront of the market to become a distant memory in the minds of a 30 plus generation. The company shed market share to Apple after the advent of the iPhone, and Samsung and other manufacturers have been eating away at what was left of the manufacturer’s customer base.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Blackberry has struggled just to maintain and even keel of late, and recently its CEO, Thorsten Heins, was ousted and replaced by John Chen. The company’s board hopes that Chen can turn the struggling smartphone maker around, but in the meantime, any customer held on to is a plus. The fact that the president of the United States is a loyal customer could be a major advertising boon for the company.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Apple Growing Sweeter<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Apple has become a world leader in the mobile market, with its iPhone taking the world by storm. The<a href="http://tinyapplebytes.com/bytes_4u.html" target="_blank"> iPad</a> tablet line has also been a very successful product for Apple and will no doubt help bolster sales during the holiday shopping season. The release of the <a href="http://tinyapplebytes.com/bytes_4u.html" target="_blank">iPhone 5s</a> and <a href="http://tinyapplebytes.com/bytes_4u.html" target="_blank">iPhone 5c</a> last year have carried Apple through the year, and the recent launch of the<a href="http://tinyapplebytes.com/bytes_4u.html" target="_blank"> iPad Miniwith Retina Display</a> and the <a href="http://tinyapplebytes.com/bytes_4u.html" target="_blank">iPad Air</a> have boosted its numbers.<o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">While Blackberry may have succeeded in keeping Apple from entering the White House, Apple may very well be the force that places Blackberry execs in the poor house if Chen can’t straighten the ailing company out.<o:p></o:p></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-83431597413119465172013-12-05T08:56:00.000-08:002013-12-05T11:10:30.286-08:00iPad Air Vs Galaxy Note 10.1Want to see the difference in the iPad Air and the new Galaxy Note 10.1 model? Then take a look at this, as the two products are compared. Awesome spec comparison of the two tablets.<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xumueaxZpOY?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-78216956784509600362013-12-05T08:10:00.001-08:002013-12-05T08:48:52.057-08:00Life on iPad: Just How Versatile Is The Tablet?From the tops of massive wind turbines to 50 feet below the surface of the water, the iPad has become a necessary part of many people's lives. Check out this awesome video from Apple detailing how iPad can be used in places you may have never thought it was possible to take a tablet.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/B8Le9wvoY00" width="640"></iframe>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-34896497959170353312013-12-05T07:32:00.001-08:002013-12-05T07:32:48.218-08:00Hacked: Facebook & Twitter Accounts Compromised In Global Password Hack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0E4srlkPWHg/UqCcEP8MmKI/AAAAAAAAAkY/-XwuNsTycds/s1600/hacker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0E4srlkPWHg/UqCcEP8MmKI/AAAAAAAAAkY/-XwuNsTycds/s400/hacker.jpg" width="355" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Facebook and Twitter have been hacked on a global scale. I know this sounds absurd, but the fact is that both of these networks have been compromised due to the use of simple passwords. This cannot be blamed on a lack of security by Facebook or Twitter. Instead, this one falls directly on the users’ heads.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Trustwave is a Chicago based company that specializes in cyber security. The company posted to its<a href="http://blog.spiderlabs.com/2013/12/look-what-i-found-moar-pony.html" target="_blank"> blog</a> that more than 2 million accounts on the Internet, including some on Facebook and Twitter, have been compromised by the “Pony” botnet controller virus. The virus is a piece of malware that spies on your computer via a keylogging script. It was spread around to computers all over the world, leaving many of them exposed to the hack.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Trustwave tracked the activities of the virus to a server in the Netherlands. They managed to do this through an “elite team of ethical hackers,” which successfully traced the information that had been stolen. According to SpiderLabs, Trustwave’s “hacking division,” said that some 650,000 sets of website credentials were stolen in a blog post last June. This was done through the Pony, version 1.9. However, according to the latest report, this time the theft was a very “stable and consistent operation” while the report from June described a more “hit and run” setup.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This time around, 1,580,000 website login credentials and 320,000 email logins were stolen through a server in the Netherlands. The server was first spotted on November 24<sup>th</sup>, and the accounts that have been compromised are numerous. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here is a breakdown of the numbers:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><!--[endif]-->Facebook – 318,121<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><!--[endif]-->Yahoo – 59,549<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><!--[endif]-->Google – 54,437<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><!--[endif]-->Twitter – 21,708<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><!--[endif]-->Odnoklassniku (Russian social network) – 9,321<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><!--[endif]-->LinkedIn – 8,490<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><!--[endif]-->ADP (Payroll solutions provider) – 7,798<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">These accounts were compromised by a lack of private security by users who chose weak passwords. If your password is “password” or “123456,” then you’re at a much higher risk of being hacked than if you chose “SupercaliFragilisticExpealidocious.” While that might seem a bit over the top, I am sure that the account holders at ADP who found their money managing accounts compromised would disagree with you wholeheartedly.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">According to John Miller, a security manager at Trustwave, there was “no evidence” that the hackers actually logged into the accounts. However, he admitted there was no proof otherwise, saying, “but they probably did.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The bottom line is that if you want to be secure in today’s world, you should choose a password that’s hard to guess. Trustwave has compiled a list of passwords they consider to be extremely insecure, and are suggesting users do not ever incorporate into any online accounts.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1.</span><span style="font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">123456</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">&nbsp;2. &nbsp; &nbsp; 123456789</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">&nbsp;3. &nbsp; &nbsp; 1234</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">&nbsp;4. &nbsp; &nbsp; password</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">&nbsp;5. &nbsp; &nbsp;12345</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">&nbsp;6. &nbsp; &nbsp;12345678</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">&nbsp;7. &nbsp; &nbsp;admin</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">&nbsp;8. &nbsp; &nbsp;124</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">&nbsp;9. &nbsp; &nbsp;1</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">10. &nbsp;111111</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Stay away from these passwords at all costs, and protect yourself from attacks like this one. Trustwave did note that most of the accounts that were compromised were located in the Netherlands, however, that is not to say someone will not target the U.S. in the next attack.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-854846947498849572013-12-04T13:10:00.001-08:002013-12-04T13:10:56.263-08:00Apple Product ShowThis is a neat little video that shows some of Apple's past products. It is amazing to see how compact technology has become since 1998.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/prCEe9_YLgw?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-65879598991866719332013-12-04T09:17:00.000-08:002013-12-04T09:17:09.440-08:00Apple News: Following Highest Close In 2013 $AAPL On The Rise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1ceqiJZtQY/UJvW5AaUo5I/AAAAAAAAAFU/c5gsGg04mlE/s1600/AAPL1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1ceqiJZtQY/UJvW5AaUo5I/AAAAAAAAAFU/c5gsGg04mlE/s1600/AAPL1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) set its highest closing price of 2013 yesterday, when it closed at $566.32. The stock has not closed this high since December 4<sup>th</sup> of 2012, which makes this the highest close in more than a year. The stock could be well on its way to the $600 price target set by Investor Place for January of 2014.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The holiday season is ramping up for Apple, and great numbers from Black Friday and Cyber Monday have no doubt helped to bolster the stock’s share price. It could be an Apple Christmas after all, if things keep looking up for the Cupertino company.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>No New iPhone</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p></o:p></b>Last year’s holiday season marked one of the best that Apple has ever seen. The launch of the<a href="http://tinyapplebytes.com/bytes_4u.html" target="_blank"> iPhone 5</a> and iPad Mini boosted sales figures through the roof, and the stock hit highs of more than $700. The following months left shareholders feeling deflated as the stock then plummeted to less than $400 per share, dashing the hopes of hitting $1100 price targets set by over enthusiastic analysts.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Apple Looks Good<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Apple is looking good these days, and although there is no new iPhone this year, the launch of the <a href="http://tinyapplebytes.com/bytes_4u.html" target="_blank">iPad Air</a> and<a href="http://tinyapplebytes.com/bytes_4u.html" target="_blank"> iPad Mini with RetinaDisplay</a> have proven sufficient attention grabbers. The public is snapping up these two products, and Apple had even experienced a supply constraint on the iPad Mini with Retina Display. Those issues seem to be easing now, and the device is proving to be a popular gadget.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Current Movement</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p></o:p></b>The stock is on the move again today, following yesterday’s encouraging close. Currently it is trading at $563.52, which is a $2.80 decrease from its opening price. However, the stock has been fluctuating above its opening price most of the morning. No doubt, it will close near the same price it did yesterday, if not above that price.<o:p></o:p></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-19970586694755398532013-12-03T09:41:00.000-08:002013-12-03T09:41:06.931-08:00Vintage Apple Super Bowl Commercial<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/axSnW-ygU5g?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe>Vintage Apple Commercial Introducing The Macintosh ComputerJoshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-22190966100277252582013-12-03T09:07:00.000-08:002013-12-03T09:07:10.278-08:00Apple News: China Mobile May Have Tried To Test Launch The iPhone 5<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r6CLSquVJ1c/Up4PHUFc7PI/AAAAAAAAAjw/nnkxXgNuwZU/s1600/China+Mobile+iPhone+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r6CLSquVJ1c/Up4PHUFc7PI/AAAAAAAAAjw/nnkxXgNuwZU/s640/China+Mobile+iPhone+5.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot China Mobile Subsidiary Website<br />Credit: Fortune</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;China Mobile and Apple Inc. have been rumored to be planning an iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c launch for the middle of this month. However, new developments in the story seemed to indicate that China Mobile had opted to launch the phone earlier. In fact, a website for one of the wireless conglomerate’s subsidiary companies in Suzhou was launched late yesterday, with the option to pre-order the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Report Based On Site</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">The story was published by Fortune’s online <a href="http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/12/02/apple-china-mobile-suzhou/" target="_blank">tech portal</a>, then later updated to reveal that China Mobile denied any deal with Apple being fully developed. A spokesperson for the Chinese wireless carrier told CNN’s Beijing office today that there is no deal with Apple yet. However, the fact that a deal had been on the minds of the two companies is an undeniable fact. Apple has been trying to sort out an agreement for more than six years with China Mobile.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Apple's Biggest Holdout</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">China Mobile has more than 740 million subscribers on its network, which makes it a valuable prize for Apple to acquire a contract with the company. However, so far, China Mobile has been Apple’s biggest holdout.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If China Mobile were indeed testing a soft launch of the iPhone 5 in its market, then Suzhou would have been a suitable place to do so. This city is one of the richest in all of China, and it has a large population. This population would not only be aware of the iPhone, but would also be able to afford the purchase price.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Site Taken Down</b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">The website which allowed for the pre-ordering of the iPhone has been replaced with a page that has Chinese characters on it. According to Google Translate, the page reads: "Reservation page information update, will be reopened later appointment. Please try again later, thank you for your support of Suzhou Mobile!" This change was made after China Mobile made its statement to CNN that there was no deal with Apple Inc. Either the site was a hoax, or China Mobile has pulled it down and denied any involvement with it.<o:p></o:p></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-91986999575349255722013-12-01T13:14:00.000-08:002013-12-01T13:14:52.267-08:00Are Apple Bytes Tasting Sweet To Investors Again?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1ceqiJZtQY/UJvW5AaUo5I/AAAAAAAAAFU/c5gsGg04mlE/s1600/AAPL1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1ceqiJZtQY/UJvW5AaUo5I/AAAAAAAAAFU/c5gsGg04mlE/s1600/AAPL1.jpg" /></a></div><div><b><br /></b></div><b></b><br /><div><b><b><br /></b></b></div><b>Nasdaq Posting Stellar Gains</b><br /><div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">The Nasdaq stock exchange has had quite a year so far, with a massive 33 percent increase that is equal to a 1,000 point rise. In fact, the exchange topped the 4,000 mark just in time for Thanksgiving this year, and the holiday shopping season is only just begun.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Nasdaq is powered mostly by tech stocks, which explains the big rise it has seen this year, as the tech market has expanded and grown exponentially. While the massive increase in the exchange’s overall value seems monumental – and it is – but it is so much more impressive because its number one company by value has not really pushed the numbers this year.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Apple Not Keeping Up With The Rest Of The World</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is the most valuable stock in the world. However, it has fallen far behind the pack this year, and has only risen 4.5 percent. Last September saw Apple Inc. touch its high water mark of $702, followed by a subsequent slide and recovery to its current level of $556.07 per share. The stock seemed to sour in the mouths of investors almost overnight, and it shed value by more than $200 per share before finally leveling out and making a comeback.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Apple Staging A Comeback</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">While it has seemed that shareholders in Apple have been left with sour cider for the last few months, it is possible that some sweet nectar may be just around the corner for the Cupertino company. We recently reported that Apple is projected to hit $600 per share by January of next year, and the company is climbing towards that mark each day. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">While the stock gained $10.11 per share today and rose by 1.85 percent, the fact that it is inching towards that $600 mark could be a sign that investor confidence in the company is once again growing. The company is a conundrum of sorts, with analysts having multiple predictions regarding its future. However, the company has a huge cash pile, which Carl Icahn believes should be distributed through a massive share buyback program. The company also manufactures and sells the premier electronic devices of the day, with iPhone and iPad being household words in America and other thriving nations.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>What Does The Future Hold?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Will Apple make a comeback to its glory days in the $700 price range? I think so, although I look for it to be somewhere in the fall of next year. I believe the iPhone 6 launch and possibility of an iWatch launch could be the catalysts to push the stock back to its stellar heights. In the meantime, buying shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) seems to be a great way to squeeze some juice from the sometimes bitter market.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Disclosure: Author holds no position in any stock mentioned at the time of this writing.<o:p></o:p></div></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-8805756684347922732013-11-30T08:37:00.000-08:002013-11-30T08:37:17.715-08:00Apple Dominates Black Friday Sales With iOS Responsible For 80% Of Mobile Orders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5u7RksDgwlM/ULy9v6vRhaI/AAAAAAAAAHE/YbkajVKzVRY/s1600/ipad+surface+tab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5u7RksDgwlM/ULy9v6vRhaI/AAAAAAAAAHE/YbkajVKzVRY/s1600/ipad+surface+tab.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Apple products were on many people’s must have list for Black Friday deals. While the general public may be interested in purchasing Apple products, analysts have been paying attention to how they are buying their products.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Apple products not only dominate the sales at many retail venues, but also the way people are making their purchases. According to IBM’s Digital Analytics Benchmark<a href="http://www-01.ibm.com/software/marketing-solutions/benchmark-hub/index.html" target="_blank"> group</a>, Apple products dominated 80 percent of the orders made online from mobile devices. The group is a "digital analytics platform that tracks millions of transactions and analyzes terabytes of raw data from approximately 800 retail sites nationwide.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">According to the report, the number of buyers who use mobile devices to make purchases online increased by 9 percent last year. Other numbers of not include that mobile devices now make up 37 percent of all shopping traffic, and a total of 21 percent of online sales.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Apple’s iOS led the charge with more than 80 percent of sales from mobile devices placed from an iOS based device. Apple also dominated traffic for the holiday, with 26 percent. Android, Google’s OS, only recorded 11 percent of the traffic. Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS, Blackberry, and other small mobile systems did not generate enough to make note of.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">IBM’s researchers also noted that iOS users spent more money than those who purchased via an Android device. In fact, iOS users spent 18 percent more than Android users. The average purchase per order for iOS users was $131.34, while Android’s users spent only $11.35 on average.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Apple has become perhaps the single most powerful force in the mobile industry. With both its own OS and its own line of phones and tablets, Apple has more to offer than Google, Samsung, or any other competitor. The quality of Apple products is perhaps the biggest draw the company has. Owning an iPad or iPhone was once a status symbol; now it is quickly becoming status quo.<o:p></o:p></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-70101391532077319922013-11-29T08:42:00.000-08:002013-11-29T08:42:33.955-08:00Bitcoin Worth Its Weight In Gold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dP-Bo-HEASU/UpjDK9wBBjI/AAAAAAAAAiI/1DGnBgm8pF0/s1600/Bitcoin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dP-Bo-HEASU/UpjDK9wBBjI/AAAAAAAAAiI/1DGnBgm8pF0/s1600/Bitcoin.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Bitcoin is the new virtual currency that has captivated the attention of the entire world. When Bitcoin first hit the world news scene it was in relationship to the demise of Silk Road, the website where consumers could purchase drugs anonymously, by using Bitcoins as the payment system. Now, with more nations recognizing the currency as a reputable means of payment, the currency’s value is skyrocketing. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Bitcoin prices were much cheaper, when a single coin cost $11.00 in November of last year. However, it recently passed the threshold of $1,000 per coin and today hit a high water mark of $1,242. This is an amazing growth rate for the currency, and it has not gone unnoticed by the world.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, gold, which has always been considered a stable form of currency, is dropping in value. It has fallen from more than $1,700 per ounce to a price of just $1,250 per ounce. Gold has registered a drop of around 25 percent so far for the year. This could be a real problem for the U.S. and other countries who’s currency systems are backed by gold bullion.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, said that Bitcoin may be the answer for the future, noting that it “may hold long term promise.” Could it be that we are about to witness a major change in the way that individuals, businesses, and even nations store their wealth. Will our currency be backed by a virtual coin rather than solid gold as it has in the past?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">I don’t think that’s what is happening with the popularity of Bitcoin. After all, you still have to use real currency to pay for it, whether its U.S. dollars or Japanese Yen, which both are backed by gold.<o:p></o:p></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-929403885484946272013-11-29T07:51:00.000-08:002013-11-29T07:57:47.639-08:00Apple News: Black Friday Deals In U.S. & Canada<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3LECYuHkCaM/UIlF4bs_xCI/AAAAAAAAACo/vYdTrULH_HM/s1600/appl4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3LECYuHkCaM/UIlF4bs_xCI/AAAAAAAAACo/vYdTrULH_HM/s1600/appl4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Apple Inc. is offering Black Friday deals in the U.S. and Canada that mimic the deals offered in Australia. The company will be giving customers gift cards to spend in the Apple Store rather than offering huge discounts on products like the iPad Mini with Retina Display. While this may be a disappointment to some shoppers, it is a smart move by Apple.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In Europe, Apple opted for more traditional discounts rather than giving gift cards. According to <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/11/29/apples-black-friday-deals-to-be-gift-cards-in-us-and-canada-" target="_blank">Apple Insider</a>, customers wishing to see direct cash savings on new Apple products should try authorized resellers like MacMall, Best Buy, and Amazon.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">In regards to Apple’s deals offered via its gift card program, the U.S. package looks to be pretty good. The iPad Air will land you a $75 gift card to the Apple Store, and the standard iPad Mini or iPad 2 will net a $50 card. A MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or iMac earns a $150 gift card. iPod Touch snags $50 and the iPod nano and Apple TV will get you a $25 gift card. Unfortunately the iPhone does not qualify for any rebates or discounts this year.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">This swap from the normal discount programs is most likely a push for the company to retain its profit margins. Giving the gift cards will help customers grab more loot from the Apple Store than they normally would, but it doesn’t help reduce the bottom line of what they have to spend.<o:p></o:p></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-70188626867015479522013-11-28T06:48:00.000-08:002013-11-28T06:48:49.344-08:00Apple Launches Black Friday Sales In Australia<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Apple has kicked off the holiday selling season in Australia by launching its Black Friday deals. Interestingly enough, there are no big discounts in the Apple Store itself this year. Instead, consumers will be receiving Apple Store Gift Cards with amounts up to A$150, which is equivalent to USD $137.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A breakdown of some of the offers are as follows:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">iPad Air = A$75<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">iPad Mini or iPad 2 = A$50<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">iPod Touch = A$50<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">iPod Nano = A$25<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">iMac, MacBook Pro, &amp; MacBook Air = A$150<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Exotics (Parrot AR.Drone 2.0, Apogee JAM Guitar Input = A$25 – A$50<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">While it seems odd, Apple has not offered a gift card for the iPad Mini with Retina Display.&nbsp; This could possibly be explained by the inability of the supply to meet demand for the powerful little tablet. Last year Apple offered immediate discounts on purchases from the store. Most of these discounts were in the 10% range, such as a $41 discount for the iPad and $101 for the MacBook Pro. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">What do you think: Should Apple use gift cards, or give direct discounts like other retailers on Black Friday?<o:p></o:p></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-41230789930815064032013-11-27T10:43:00.000-08:002013-11-27T10:43:21.635-08:00Apple News - $AAPL May Hit $600 In January: Investor Place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvRQQs9pXDI/UIHBBKZ5xEI/AAAAAAAAABw/46bCMtWAh-M/s1600/apple+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvRQQs9pXDI/UIHBBKZ5xEI/AAAAAAAAABw/46bCMtWAh-M/s1600/apple+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">In a <a href="http://investorplace.com/2013/11/trade-day-apple-aapl-2/#.UpYrfNJDvlY" target="_blank">report</a> today from Sam Collins, the Chief Technical Analyst for Investor Place, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is predicted to hit $600 as early as January. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Apple's Drop</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In the report, Collins notes the numerous times he rated $AAPL as a Sell, beginning on October 9 of 2012, when the stock was trading at $638.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Apple was on a downward trend at the time, which continued through December, when he recommended again that investors sell the tech stock, as it had dropped to $510 per share. On February 28<sup>th</sup> of this year, he made yet another sell recommendation, giving the stock a target of only $450 to $500 on the downside. At that time, the stock was bringing only $440 per share.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Summer Turnaround<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In July, Collins noted that when the stock was near $410 per share, he said, “All shorts should be covered in light of a possible saucer forming. A close above the resistance line at $465 would signal that a long term bottom has finally been established.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This prediction proved to be true, and in September Collins said, “The bullish saucer formation has continued to develop, a golden cross has formed, and MACD triggered a buy signal. The final bullish signal would be for AAPL to close above the resistance line at $500, but those who wish to take a modest risk could take positions now with a trading target of $570 and a stop-loss at $455. Apple has become a moving target, but a well-placed arrow here could result in a bushel of profits.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Apple Evens Out<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Since September Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has consistently closed above $500 per share. It has remained just under the $540 per share mark, and according to Collins this bodes well for the stock going forward. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He says that a close above the $540 line on a higher volume should boost the stock to the $570 target price set by Investor Place. From there, it is just a short hop to $600, which is the price target he believes Apple will hit in January of 2014.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The chart below illustrates Apple’s movements this year, demonstrating the saucer effect mentioned by Collins.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rOY4JSA6j-I/UpY8vTJfSaI/AAAAAAAAAhs/AB841UghGYU/s1600/Apple+2013+Saucer.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rOY4JSA6j-I/UpY8vTJfSaI/AAAAAAAAAhs/AB841UghGYU/s1600/Apple+2013+Saucer.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k3KBtN-ip2Y/UpY85XCkBSI/AAAAAAAAAh0/0ET6pI7sSek/s1600/Apple+Saucer+Legend.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k3KBtN-ip2Y/UpY85XCkBSI/AAAAAAAAAh0/0ET6pI7sSek/s1600/Apple+Saucer+Legend.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Whether this prediction will come true remains to be seen. However, in light of Apple’s success with the iPhone 5s and the fact that China Mobile will be launching the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in December, a $600 price target does not seem to far out of reach.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3908884234248915434.post-20469120263704428492013-11-27T08:42:00.001-08:002013-11-27T08:42:15.593-08:00iPhone 5s Production Ramped Up To 500K Units Per Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--zbdaBg0HsA/UpYg1cWV2qI/AAAAAAAAAhc/47eRAs28z4E/s1600/iPhone+5s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--zbdaBg0HsA/UpYg1cWV2qI/AAAAAAAAAhc/47eRAs28z4E/s1600/iPhone+5s.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Demand for the iPhone 5s has caused Apple supplier Foxconn to boost its production to 500,000 units per day. With the holiday shopping season quickly approaching, the need to reduce the bottlenecks in supplies has increased. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">According to reports, the Taiwan based Foxconn has dedicated 100 of its assembly lines strictly to the iPhone 5s. The Zhengzhou factory has more than 300,000 employees working on the iPhone 5s around the clock.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This big boost in production has helped ease the supply constraints and reduced the amount of time required for shipping a new iPhone. Reports came in during the early stages of release that iPhone 5s customers were waiting as much as 3 weeks to receive their new device. However, that wait time has now been reduced to 3-5 days.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Foxconn has indicated that it is at maximum production for the iPhone 5s, and rumors of Apple’s desire to diversify its supply chain could be leading to the company being unwilling to dedicate more of its employees to the iPhone. If Apple selects other suppliers to produce its products, Foxconn’s share of the pie could get substantially smaller.<o:p></o:p></div>Joshua Rarrickhttps://plus.google.com/109445877937594726833noreply@blogger.com0